Telephone-directory



C. F.. MIDDLEBROOK.

TELEPHONE WHEN-CRY.

APPLICATION man :une 8.1916.

Patented May 6, 1919.

hj/vegrn WM .HTraR/vay UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

CHARLES F. MIDDLEBROOK,OF k13IN'GrI-IAM'ION', NEW YORK.

"DELEPHONE-DIREGTORY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed `Tune 48, 1916. Serial No. 102,510.

used more particularly on the standardsof desk phones, the main objectbeingto provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive device of thischaracter capable of being.

easily and quickly placed upon the standard of any desk phone forturning movement, and also of receiving a relatively large number of themost frequently used names and numbers of subscribers for readyreference while awaiting response from the central oiiice.

I am aware that many devices have been proposed for this purpose, but Ibelieve that I am the first to employ a multi-sided transparent caseopen at both ends and divided through one side to enable it to be easilyand quickly placed upon the standard of a desk phone, in combinationwith separate placards bearing the names and numbers of the subscriberson each of its several faces.

@ther objects and uses relating to specific parts of the device will bebrought out in the following description.

Figure l is a perspective View ofv a desk phone showing my improveddirectory thereon. f

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on line 2-2, Fig.l, omitting the telephone.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken in the plane of line3-3, Fig. 2.

As illustrated, this directory comprises a case -lhaving a multiplicityof, in this instance three, substantially fiat rectangular sides 2, allmade of a single piece of Celluloid or similar comparatively inexpensivetransparent material folded along transverse parallel lines equallydistant from each other, and the ends brought together at one corneraround the standard, as -aa, of the telephone -A- and secured togetherby any suitable fastening means, as eyelets.

- -3j-, thus producing, in this instance, a

triangularv case.

This case is preferably open at both ends and made of any convenientsize, preferably of just suflicient interior area to receive thestandard -aand permit the case to be turned thereon with the lower endresting upon the base, as -a/-, of the phone.

Patented May 6, 1919.

The lower edges of the several ysides of the case` are preferablycrimped or'turned inwardly and upwardly to form supporting flange -4-for the lower edges of a series 1 of, in this instance three, separateplacards -5- of paper, cardboard or other suitable material ofsubstantially the same area as the corresponding sides of the case so asto lie closely adjacent to the inner faces thereof with the printedmatter, indicating the subscribers7 names and numbers, facing outwardlyso as to be readily visible through the transparent sides of the case,said flanges serving as stops to limit the' downward movement of theplacards.

The object in making these cards separate from each other and from thecase is to enable any one of them to be removed and replaced from thetop without disturbing the others when it is desired to revise the listof names and numbers thereon.

The triangular form of case is found to be the most desirable for usewith separate placards for the reason that the vertical edges of eachcard are.held in place by the adjacent edges of the other cards and bythe acute angles at the corners which form vertical guides for thecards, thereby causing said cards to lie flatwise close to the flattransparent sides of the case without eXtra fastening means.

The anges -4-- at the bottom also serve to hold the cards flatwiseagainst the inner faces of the side of the case, and'furthermorereinforce the entire case against buckling, and at the same time enableit to be turned more easily upon the base -a-.

The case and blankruled cards may be furnished to the subscriberflatwise, and afterward folded by the subscriber along prescribed linesand placed around the standard of the telephone, and then the meetingends secured together by the eyelets -3-, whereupon the desiredsubscribers names and tele phone numbers may be written upon the cardswhich may then be inserted in place from the top downward within thecase with the assurance that the lower edges will rest upon the flanges-4-.

If, at any time, it is necessary to revise the list of subscribers namesand numbers on any one of the cards, it may be readily withdrawnupwardly from the interior of the case and either revised or replaced byanother card without removing thecasefrom the standard.

What I claim is:

1. A telephone directory comprising a triangular case having transparentsides forming acute angle guides at the corners, and separate placards,one for each side, slidable vertically in said guides across the innerfaces of the transparent sides. Y

2. A telephone directory comprising an upright triangular case havingflat transparent sides and inturned flanges alongthe lower edgesthereof, and number plates loosely inserted from the top downward acrossthe inner faces of the transparent sides and having their upright edgesengaging inthe angles of the caseand their lower edges resting on theunderlying flanges.

3. lAl telephone directory comprising a single strip of transparentbendable material bent into triangular form and having its ends securedto each other to form an upright transparent case open from top tobottom, incombination with placards "slidable vertically across theinner faces of the transparent sides and guided in the acute anglesat'the corners In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 31stday of May, 1916.

CHARLES F. MIDDLEBROOK.

'Witnessesz GF. CLEARY, HARRY C. WALKER.

Qonieeol this patent mayI beA obtained for ive cents each, by addressingthe ,Gqmmisaiouen of latent,

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